High Prevalence of Long-COVID Among Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

• Published in: Transplantation Vol. 106; no. 12; p. 2408
• Main Authors: Amorim, Carlos Eduardo Neves, Gomes, Vinicius Lafico Teixeira, Cristelli, Marina Pontello, Viana, Laila Almeida, de Luca Correa, Hugo, Lima, Gierisson Brenno Borges, de Sousa Silva, Flaviana Santos, de Castro Lima, Gabriel Santos, Rosa, Thiago Dos Santos, Nakamura, Monica Rika, Quintino, Priscilla Monteiro, Tedesco-Silva, Helio, Medina-Pestana, José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.2022
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; Cohort Studies; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Kidney Transplantation - adverse effects; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Transplant Recipients
• DOI: 10.1097/TP.0000000000004359

Kidney transplant recipients are at a higher risk to develop more severe clinical forms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), perhaps increasing the risk of presenting its long-term clinical complications, labeled as Long-COVID. This single-center, observational, prospective study included adult kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19 confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction between March 20, 2020, and May 31, 2021, who were alive and with functioning graft 3 mo after the onset of symptoms. The prevalence of Long-COVID was investigated by a phone survey using a structured questionnaire of organic symptoms. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate independent risk factors. Of 1741 patients who developed COVID-19, 465 died, and 37 returned to dialysis. Of the 1239 eligible patients, 780 (63%) answered the survey during the window period. The mean age was 48 ± 12 y, 41% were women, and the mean time from transplantation was 8 ± 6 y. During acute illness, 45% needed hospitalization. Long-COVID was identified in 214 (27%) of the subjects, with body aches being the most prevalent symptom (44%). Of 233 who provided working status, 17% did not return to work within 3 mo. No baseline characteristics or infection-related variables predicted Long-COVID; actually, the number of symptoms in the acute illness was the only independent risk factor identified (hazard ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.22). In this cohort of kidney transplant recipients, Long-COVID was prevalent and associated with a reduced return to work. The burden of acute phase symptoms was the only risk factor associated with Long-COVID.